Amazon reimburses you for Dash Buttons after your first purchase
In late July, Amazon quietly made its Dash Buttons available to all Prime members, without any announcement or fanfare. Today, the company finally made its new program official, and added products from 11 new brands in the process, though it’s still limited to Prime subscribers only. The new additions bring the total to 29 brands that tally over 500 products — all of which can be ordered with the push of a button. What’s more, Amazon will also reimburse you for the $5 buttons when you use them to make your first purchase. In other words, you can give it a shot and if you end up not liking it (or even if you do), you’ll get your money back. In addition to household items like laundry detergent and food, you can now use the buttons to order mints, gum and protein powder, among other things. For a full list of the available items, take a look here.
Filed under:
Household, Amazon
Tags: amazon, amazondash, amazondashbutton, amazoneprime, dashbutton, household, onlineshopping, prime
Some of the largest tech companies are working together to make a new video format
Almost all the biggest tech companies are joining together to create a new royalty free video format. Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix plan on making this new format to revolutionize the internet.
The new company formed is called Alliance for Open Media. The new video format will probably mean the final end to Adobe Flash. Flash video has been around forever and has only caused trouble in recent years. Apple was the first company to stop using Flash altogether when it’s iPhone came out, interestingly enough, Apple is not a part of the alliance. However, Apple, Facebook, Sony, Twitter and other major tech companies, which are not a part of it, are welcome to join according to Mozilla CTO David Bryant.
“The initial members are just a start. We invite anyone with an interest in video, online or off, to join us.”
The new video format does not have a name currently, but will be specifically designed for streaming video. It will also need to able to work well with low powered mobile devices. A notable feature is the video format will support copyright protection.
The new group will operate under W3C patent rules and release code under an Apache 2.0 license. This means the new video format will be royalty free, any company can build software to support it.
A Mozilla blog post by Mozilla CTO David Bryant details the participants’ reasoning and concerns.
“One of the biggest challenges in developing open standards in a field like video codecs is figuring out how to review the patents. The Alliance provides a venue for us to share the legal legwork without having to worry about it being used against us down the road.
That distributes the load, allows us to innovate faster and cheaper, and gives everyone more confidence that we are really producing a royalty-free codec.”
Personally, I think there are already many other excellent video codecs out there to use and this seems to be more about creating a copyright protected one. However, share with us your thoughts in the comments.
Source: Alliance for Open Media
Via: TNW News
Come comment on this article: Some of the largest tech companies are working together to make a new video format
Google, Microsoft and Netflix team up on free video formats
It’s no secret that many tech companies hate video formats that are closed, cost money or both — enough so that they’ll drop popular standards and develop their own codecs. There hasn’t been a concerted attempt to tackle this problem, however, which is why several industry giants have just launched the Alliance for Open Media. Founding members Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix are working on a future video format that should be royalty-free, open to anyone and playable on just about any modern device. It’s still extremely early (the group hasn’t even said how others can join), but you should hear more about their efforts later this year.
While it’s not stated, the Alliance is effectively trying to make an end run around MPEG LA, the group that licenses big video formats like H.264 and H.265. If the Alliance can create a standard that catches on, it’d eliminate one of the common costs for offering video playback on devices and through the internet. However, that’s a big “if.” The tech industry is notorious for developing formats that either take ages to arrive or quickly fizzle out. Also, Apple isn’t one of the founders. Unless the Alliance can convince Apple to hop aboard, it may have trouble reaching the widest possible audience — just look at what happened when Cupertino refused to support Flash on its mobile hardware.
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel
Via:
TechCrunch
Source:
Alliance for Open Media
Tags: allianceforopenmedia, amazon, cisco, google, hdpostcross, intel, internet, microsoft, mozilla, mpeg-la, mpegla, netflix, streaming, video, web
Now Amazon’s Prime lets you download videos on your Android phone
Amazon has just made its Prime Video service available for download on Android and iOS, letting users watch them offline or when they are not connected to the Internet. The move will give Amazon’s Prime Videos a clear edge over other streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus.
Now-a-days, users find it more convenient to watch movies and television series on their smartphones and tablets, especially during a flight or a long journey. The fact that Amazon’s Prime membership can now let them download anything from its content rich library may sway them away from Netflix and other such services.
The service has been available for Kindle Fire users for a couple of years before being expanded to Android and iOS devices. The list of television shows available on Prime Video include 24, Covert Affairs, Downton Abbey, Hannibal, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Teen Wolf, The Americans, The Good Wife, Suits, Transparent, Hot Pursuit and How I Met Your Mother.
Full Press Release
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that Prime members in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Austria will now be able to download movies and TV episodes, including award-winning Amazon Original Series, to iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets for offline viewing, at no additional charge. Amazon Video is the only online subscription streaming video service that enables downloads of titles, meaning unlike other subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Prime members can enjoy movies and TV shows as part of their membership even when they don’t have an internet connection available. For more information and to download the app, visit http://www.amazon.com/GetAndroidVideo andhttp://amzn.to/1IBFZlU.
Titles available on Prime Video to download for offline viewing include:
- Drama series such as the Amazon Original Series Bosch based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books; the Starz miniseries The White Queen; and hit network shows including 24, Covert Affairs, Downton Abbey, Extant, Grimm,Hannibal, Justified, Mr. Selfridge, Orphan Black, Sons of Anarchy, Teen Wolf,The Americans, The Good Wife, Suits, Under the Dome, Veronica Mars,Vikings, and many more
- Comedy series including Amazon’s multi-Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated series Transparent, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy Mozart in the Jungle, and the critically acclaimed comedy created by and starring Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe
- Binge-worthy series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Girls, Veep, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, The Newsroom, and True Blood, among others
- Kids shows exclusive for Prime members including Amazon Original Series Wishenpoof!, Creative Galaxy, the 2015 Annie Award-winning animated series for preschoolers Tumble Leaf, the live-action kids series Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and Annedroids
- Blockbuster movies including Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Captive, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and The Wolf of Wall Street, in addition to exclusives such as Life After Beth, Palo Alto, Starred Up, The Bling Ring, If I Stay, and The Spectacular Now
“There’s no doubt that the way people watch entertainment is changing—anytime, anywhere viewing is important and we are excited to provide our Prime members with offline viewing capabilities on iOS and Android platforms starting today,” stated Michael Paull, Vice President of Digital Video at Amazon. “We are proud to be the first and only online subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing—on vacation, in a car, at the beach, on a plane, wherever our Prime members want to watch they can, regardless of internet connection.”
Prime members have already been loving video downloads on Fire devices. Here is what they have said:
- “DOWNLOAD AMAZON PRIME VIDEOS—AWESOME!”
- “I download Prime TV and movie content for my kids to watch while we are out and about (driving, waiting for sister’s soccer or dance classes, flying, etc.).”
- “Prime members get to download Prime TV shows, movies, music & books and are able to… wait for it. View, watch and listen OFFLINE!”
- “I could take videos with me when I had no internet connection, such as in a car. Second, when my kids want to watch videos, I can download their favorites so they won’t be hogging the bandwidth at home!”
The Amazon Video app for iOS has been updated to include Prime Video downloads. For more details on what’s new and to download the app, visit: http://amzn.to/1IBFZlU.
The Amazon Video app for Android is newly redesigned as a standalone video app to provide Android users with an improved in-app entertainment experience, including the ability to download titles from Prime Video. To learn more about what’s new and to download the app, visit: http://www.amazon.com/GetAndroidVideo
In addition to offline viewing on Fire devices, iPads, iPhones and Android devices, Prime members can instantly stream and enjoy their favorite movies and TV series using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/primevideo. Later this year, Prime members and customers will also have instant access to the complete Amazon digital video store while flying JetBlue. Eligible customers who are not Prime members can sign-up by visiting amazon.com/primefor a 30-day trial.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video includes tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes available on Prime Video at no additional charge to Prime members, as well as access to hundreds of thousands of titles to buy or rent. Amazon Video is the only service in the world that brings customers both of these options in one place.
Amazon Video can be accessed through the Amazon Video app on TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online atAmazon.com/amazonvideo. Prime Video titles can also be downloaded for offline enjoyment—the only subscription streaming service to offer this functionality. Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at Amazon.com/prime.
Prime Video, available on Amazon Video, lets Prime members enjoy binge-worthy TV shows including Amazon Original Series airing now such as the multi-Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated series Transparent, the hour-long drama Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy Mozart in the Jungle, and the comedy created by and starring Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, Catastrophe, in addition to binge-worthy favorites like The Sopranos, True Blood, and Girls, and popular primetime series including 24, Downton Abbey, Extant, Falling Skies, Grimm,Hannibal, Justified, Orphan Black, Teen Wolf, The Americans, and Under the Dome. Prime members also have access to an exclusive collection of kids shows now airing including Amazon Original Series Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and the Annecy, Annie and multi-Emmy Award-winning Tumble Leaf, as well as popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, and Blue’s Clues.
Amazon Video also gives customers access to hundreds of thousands of movies and TV episodes to buy or rent including new release movies such as The Divergent Series: Insurgent, The Longest Ride, and Hot Pursuit, or the latest TV programming likeThe Astronaut Wives Club, Pretty Little Liars, How to Get Away with Murder, and many more.
In addition to tens of thousands of titles to instantly stream on Prime Video, the Amazon Prime membership (www.amazon.com/prime) includes more than one million songs, more than a thousand playlists and hundreds of stations through Prime Music, unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, early access to select Lightning Deals, unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos, and access to borrow from more than 800,000 books for Kindle owners–all for $99 a year.
About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
Come comment on this article: Now Amazon’s Prime lets you download videos on your Android phone
Amazon Video is first online subscription streaming video service to offer offline playback
The battle that is subscription-based online video streaming gets more interesting today as Amazon Video announces an industry first. Available as part of recently updated service and mobile apps, Amazon will now let users download Prime Videos to be played back offline.
Indeed, this is a major move as players like Hulu and Netflix don’t yet offer the capability. Even stuff like that from Google Play Movies and TV require individual purchases or rental. Nobody, today, offers a subscription service for shows and movies that also lets you work offline.
“There’s no doubt that the way people watch entertainment is changing—anytime, anywhere viewing is important and we are excited to provide our Prime members with offline viewing capabilities on iOS and Android platforms starting today.“
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber (you really should be) and want to check out the Prime Video downloads, be sure to update your iOS app or install the standalone video app for Android. Not an Amazon Prime subscriber? Try the service out for 30 days for free!
The post Amazon Video is first online subscription streaming video service to offer offline playback appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Amazon Prime Video adds new offline watching feature
Amazon Prime Video gets even better with a new offline download option for select content.
One of the biggest flaws of today’s streaming video services is that they are, in fact, streaming services. While this is perfectly fine, and in many cases ideal, when we are connected to Wi-Fi or if we don’t mind using up some of our mobile data, what about those situations where you can’t access the web? Whether you are on a flight or just in an area where web access is limited, the ability to download content from a streaming service would be a nice extra.
Keep dreaming, right? No, actually we can wake up, as that’s exactly what Amazon is now delivering. Today Amazon has rebranded its streaming service as simply Amazon Prime Video and with an update to its renamed “Amazon Video” app, Prime subscribers can now download a select number of streaming titles for offline watching.
As you might imagine, Amazon can’t just instantly make its entire library available for offline using, it first needs to reach an agreement with its content providers. At the moment that means Amazon’s original shows will be offered, as well as several shows from NBCUniversal, CBS, Fox, and more. There’s even a number of movies including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Wolf of Wall Street, and more.
While Netflix remains an arguably superior option to Amazon Video due to the sheer number of movies and shows available, the ability to download Amazon Video content for offline watching is a major plus that puts the two services on much more even ground. What do you think of the new offline downloading feature? For those that have avoided Amazon Prime Video, does this new feature change your mid about the service?
Amazon beats Netflix to offline movie and TV show streaming
For years, Netflix subscribers have asked for the ability to download movies and TV shows offline. The company says it’s “never going to happen” — so Amazon has taken the initiative and added exactly that to its rival streaming service. If you’re signed up to Prime Video, or have an Amazon Prime account, you can now store titles covered by your subscription on almost any mobile device. It’s supported in both the iOS and Android app — although the latter will require you to download the app through the Amazon Appstore. The regular Amazon app in Google Play, which also supports Prime Video, doesn’t seem to have the feature just yet, however. The feature first debuted on Fire tablets in 2013, but this expansion is significant — if you’re a frequent flyer, for instance, you no longer have to break your Transparent binge-session or purchase the full series if you’re on an iPad.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Amazon
Via:
Amazon
Source:
Amazon Video (iOS), (Amazon)
Tags: amazon, android, app, download, instantvideo, ios, offlineplayback, primeinstantvideo, streaming
Nintendo opens digital download store on Amazon
US Amazon users can now buy Nintendo titles like Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U through a digital download space on Amazon. According to the page, you can purchase one of the 61 titles listed, including Mario Kart 8, Splatoon and Yoshi’s Island, then just click the Nintendo Network link on the ‘thank you’ page. From there, the content code will be automatically redeemed and the game sent directly to your Wii U or 3DS console. The new store means there’s now another way to purchase downloadable games other than through Nintendo’s eShop — even though it still comes directly from Nintendo.
Pricing on Amazon seems to be the same as Nintendo’s eShop — Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 on Wii U are the same $59.99 on both sites. However, it’s possible that Amazon will have the odd sale or deal (we’ve reached out for more info). Until recently, Amazon didn’t even stock Nintendo consoles itself, choosing to just fulfill orders from other retailers on its site. That led some folks to speculate that there was some kind of feud going on, though neither side ever confirmed that. Recently, however, Amazon started selling the 3DS XL and some other bundles after several years of not doing so. And the new store seems a sign that any dispute — real or imagined — is now in the past.
Filed under:
Gaming, Amazon, Nintendo
Via:
Wario64 (Twitter)
Source:
Amazon
Tags: amazon, DigitalDownloads, downloads, eShop, games, nintendo, NintendoDigitalDownloads
Apple reportedly bid for Clarkson and ‘Top Gear’ co-stars
It was quite a surprise when Amazon announced it had snapped up the Top Gear trio for a new show on Prime Instant Video. Many thought Netflix or Sky would win out, but now it’s emerged that another unlikely player was bidding for Clarkson and friends: Apple. According to Variety, the company made “an unprecedented bid” for the stars after they left the BBC. Ultimately, however, it must have been turned down. If Apple is indeed preparing its own original programming, it would make sense that the three British presenters were at the top of its wish list. Now the ball is in Amazon’s court; the company is desperate for a House of Cards-level hit, but aside from Transparent, it’s failed to make much headway. On Clarkson’s reputation alone, Bezos may finally get it with a Top Gear spiritual successor.
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Apple, Amazon
Source:
Variety
Tags: amazon, apple, clarkson, jeremyclarkson, primeinstantvideo, topgear
Sling TV now available on Amazon Fire Tablets
Expanding on the range of devices user’s can access Sling TV, the provider has announced that they now support current versions of the Amazon Fire HD and Amazon Fire HDX tablets. These devices join the Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick as supported Sling TV devices from Amazon. To help entice Amazon tablet owners to check out Sling TV, they are offering a 14-day free trial for owners of Amazon tablet devices.
Roger Lynch, CEO of Sling TV, says, “Amazon customers now have more ways to access the best live and on-demand content TV has to offer today. With the introduction of Sling TV on Amazon Fire HD and HDX tablets, millions of Amazon customers can now access their entertainment in and outside of the home.”
You can read the full press release from Sling TV below:
Sling TV Launches on Amazon Fire Tablets
- Sling TV now available on current versions of Amazon Fire HD and Fire HDX tablets, in addition to Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Amazon Fire HDX 8.9, Fire HDX 7, Fire HD 7 and Fire HD 6 tablet customers can watch Sling TV free for 14 days
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sling TV released its app for Amazon Fire HD and HDX tablets, rounding out its live Internet TV offering on Fire devices, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Amazon Fire HD and HDX tablet device owners can now download the Sling TV app in the Amazon Appstore. For a limited time, new Sling TV customers with an Amazon Fire HDX 8.9, Fire HDX 7, Fire HD 7 or Fire HD 6 tablet can also take advantage of a 14-day free trial of Sling TV.
“Amazon customers now have more ways to access the best live and on-demand content TV has to offer today,” said Roger Lynch, CEO of Sling TV. “With the introduction of Sling TV on Amazon Fire HD and HDX tablets, millions of Amazon customers can now access their entertainment in and outside of the home.”
“We are thrilled to have Sling TV available to our Fire HD and HDX tablet customers,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Appstore. “Since launching on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Sling TV has been extremely popular with our customers and availability on Fire HD and HDX tablets makes it even more convenient for them to watch their favorite live television shows without a cable subscription.”
The Fire HD and Fire HDX tablets are the latest to be added to the roster of Sling TV supported devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Google’s Nexus Player, current-generation Roku players and Roku TV models, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices, Mac and PC.
To purchase a compatible Amazon tablet, visit Amazon.com. To access the 14-day free trial offer, new Sling TV customers must download the Sling TV app from the Amazon Appstore on an Amazon Fire HDX 8.9, Fire HDX 7, Fire HD 7 or Fire HD 6 tablet and follow instructions to activate the offer in-app. After the free trial, the customer’s credit card will be charged for the applicable subscription unless they cancel.
Sling TV’s “Best of Live TV” includes more than 20 channels for $20 per month. The core package delivers ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, A&E, TNT, HISTORY, H2, TBS, Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, IFC, El Rey, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, ABC Family, Disney Channel, CNN, Bloomberg TV, Lifetime and Galavisión. This package additionally features access to WatchESPN, including ESPN3 and an extensive library of VOD entertainment. Customers can choose to customize their entertainment experience with the addition of HBO® for $15 per month. Additional a la carte-like add-ons include “Sports Extra,” “Hollywood Extra,” “Kids Extra,” “Lifestyle Extra,” “World News Extra” and Latino add-ons, “Deportes Extras” and “Películas & Novelas Extra,” each for $5 per month. In addition to live channels and VOD entertainment, Sling TV customers have access to popular content from Maker Studios.
About Sling TV
Sling TV L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), provides over-the-top television services including domestic and international live and Video-On-Demand programming. It is available on televisions, tablets, computers and smartphones. The Sling TV programming portfolio includes content from Disney/ESPN, HBO, AMC, A&E, Turner, Scripps, EPIX, Univision and Maker Studios. Sling Latino offers a suite of standalone and add-on Spanish-language programming packages tailored to English-dominant, bilingual and Spanish-dominant U.S. Hispanics. Sling International currently provides more than 200 channels in 18 languages across multiple devices to U.S. households. Sling TV is a next-generation service that meets the entertainment needs of today’s contemporary viewers. Visit www.Sling.com.
Follow @Sling on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Sling #TakeBackTV
Come comment on this article: Sling TV now available on Amazon Fire Tablets
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